Alimony
/ˈælɪmoʊni/
nounIntermediate📊CommonLegal
1 meaning1 question
Definitions
1
Financial support paid by one spouse to the other after a divorce or legal separation.
/ˈælɪmoʊni/
nounneutralIntermediate
Legal
Financial support paid to a spouse after divorce.
She received alimony for five years after the divorce.
💡 Simply: Money paid after a divorce to help support an ex-spouse.
More Examples
2
He was ordered to pay alimony to his former wife.
How It's Used
Legal
"The judge awarded her alimony payments of $2,000 per month."
From Old French *alimoigne, from Late Latin *alimonium, from Latin alere "to nourish, support". Originally referred to charitable support, later evolving to its current legal meaning.
The word's meaning shifted over time from general charitable support to its current specific legal context.
Memory tip
Think 'al-i-mony' as 'allowing money' for support.
Word Origin
LanguageLatin
Original meaning
"to nourish, support"
awarded alimonypay alimonyreceive alimony
Common misspellings
almonyalimenyalimonie
Practice
Usage
10%Spoken
90%Written